Respirator

Product Description

A respirator is a device designed to protect the wearer from inhaling particulate matter, including airborne microrganisms, fumes, vapors, i.e. gases. Respirators range from relatively inexpensive single-use, disposable face masks to more robust reusable models with replaceable cartridges and are used by the military, private industry and the public.

There are two main categories: the air-purifying respirator which forces contaminated air through a filtering element, and the air-supplied respirator in which an alternate supply of fresh air is delivered. Within each category, different techniques are employed to reduce or eliminate noxious airborne contaminants.

A respirator is a piece of protective respiratory equipment designed to protect the wearer from inhaling harmful particulate matter (as in dusts, including airborne microrganisms), fumes, vapors, or gases. They range from relatively inexpensive single-use, disposable masks to more robust reusable models with replaceable cartridges, and are used by the military, private industry and the public.

There are two main categories: the air-purifying respirator, which forces contaminated air through a filtering element, and the air-supplied respirator in which fresh air is delivered alternatively. Different techniques are employed to reduce or eliminate noxious airborne contaminants.

There can be confusion over terminology, as some literature^[which?] and users may refer to a particulate unit as a dust mask or filter, and use the term respirator only to mean a unit that can handle volatile organic compounds solvents.^{[citation needed]}